The Tijuana Xolos will begin their Leagues Cup campaign at Q2 Stadium against Austin FC this Thursday, August 6. The team has a great start in the Liga MX 2026 Apertura and will seek to be competitive in this Leagues Cup. With an impeccable start, the Tijuana Xolos is second in the Liga MX table, with 7 points, 2 wins, 1 draw, and 0 losses in 3 games, and their last result was a 0-0 draw against Atletico San Luis on August 1, 2026. The team has great stability in the midfield and especially in the defense, with only one goal allowed this season. Ecuadorian defender Jackson Porozo is the leader of the defense with his imposing physical presence. Goalkeeper Antonio Rodriguez has been one of the best players in his position in the Liga MX for several seasons. The Tijuana Xolos has several playmakers like Gilberto Mora who can make the inconsistent Austin defense pay. Mora has played in two games after the FIFA World Cup and has already scored a goal. Mora has played in an offensive midfield position, but also has the liberty to roam in the offense. Despite having a great playmaker like Mora in the attack, there are doubts about the striker position. Mourad El Ghezouani and Diego Abreu have proven to be highly inconsistent. The Xolos did sign Elias Manoel, and it will be interesting to see if the Brazilian forward can add stability to this offense. Manoel is coming over from Portuguese club Santa Clara, where he scored three goals in 15 games. The 24-year-old was not a starter in any of these games, as his production has the potential to increase with more consistent playing time. The Tijuana Xolos seeks to be competitive in the Leagues Cup, but Austin FC has been one of the worst teams in MLS this year, currently 14th in the Western Conference table. The most recent loss was a 1-0 defeat to Colorado Rapids away from home. Myrto Uzuni has been the most productive offensive player on this roster with six goals scored in 2026. Facundo Torres has also been a key component of this attack with five assists on the year. Despite these intriguing offensive pieces, the defense has been a real problem for Austin. Los Verdes have allowed the second-most goals (36) in the Western Conference and have already allowed five goals since the World Cup break. The Tijuana Xolos has several playmakers like Mora that can make this inconsistent Austin backline pay. The next fixture for the Tijuana Xolos will be on August 17, 2026, against Cruz Azul at home.